Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Well situated |
| Disadvantages: |
Traffic noise |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
BASIC DETAILS
The Southgate Tower Suite Hotel, built in 1929, is part of the Affinia Group. It has 523 suites on 28 floors. The suites are either studio, one or two bedroom. Each have kitchen, dining area, sitting area and separate bathroom. Sleeping areas depend on suite. One and two bedroom suites have extra sofa bed in lounge. All suites have air conditioning, telephone, pc connection, tv, radio/cd player, hairdryer,iron/ironing board, toaster, microwave, fridge/freezer etc. and all the crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils you need.
The rooms are clean, spacious, comfortable and tastefully furnished. Non-smoking rooms are also available. Maid service is daily and you are provided with ample towels and even tea towels. Room service is available if required and prices were very reasonable. Other services include, concierge, valet, secretarial and laundry. There is also a fitness centre in the hotel. Safety deposit facilities are available in the lobby. Niles restaurant and bar is on the ground floor and is open to both hotel guests and general public from 7.00am - 11.00pm.
The hotel is situated in the 'fashion district' of Manhattan on 7th Avenue/31st Street, across the road (avenue) from Madison Square Gardens and Pennsylvania Station. The main entrance to the hotel provides a small escalator to the lobby and there are four lifts to all floors from the lobby. I am not sure if the building is suitable for disabled guests. The public areas were certainly spacious and accessible but I do not think the kitchen or bathroom would be large enough to accommodate a wheelchair. However there were guests in the hotel who were in wheelchairs so perhaps there are specially adapted rooms available but I was not aware of this and the website does not mention it.
MY EXPERIENCE OF THIS HOTEL
I visited in April 2004 with my husband and son. We hadn't been to New York before and were a bit apprehensive. We flew into Newark and got the train to Pennsylvania Station. When you come out of the station (make sure you come out onto the 7th Avenue exit), you can see the hotel across the road to your right.
When you enter the main lobby you cannot fail to be impressed. It's like stepping back in time; the opulence of the enormous chandeliers, mirrors, marble, lighting and huge comfortable sofas and chairs, give the appearance of something from the 20's. If any of you have experienced Disney's Tower of Terror and can remember the hotel lobby, well this is just like that only clean, alive and much, much bigger. The staff could not be more helpful. Currency exchange facilities are available in the lobby or at the bank next door. The concierge can get theatre tickets, arrange your lift to the airport, sell day or week metro passes (for
travel on bus or subway) and is a mine of information. There was a security desk but I did notice that sometimes the chap on duty was called away and no one stepped in to fill his place.
Our room was to the rear of the hotel on the 20th floor, overlooking 31st Street to the North and a fantastic view of the Empire State Building to the East. Unfortunately we also overlooked to the North, a Fire Station and South East, a Police Station. It seemed as though the fire engines were continuously in motion and if it wasn't them it was the police sirens. I must be honest and say the noise from the traffic was very audible 24/7 and it was extremely difficult to sleep. Couple this with the fact we were in the fashion district, a working area, where people start work at an unbelievably early hour you will perhaps gain insight into the disruption to sleep.
The
accommodation itself was excellent, plenty of room for everyone. We had a one-bedroom suite and our son slept on the double sofa bed in the lounge. The furnishings reflected the 20's feel but with a modern touch. Crystal/glass table lamps and huge leather footstool, comfortable sofa and armchairs, large leather topped desk and reclining leather chair. The bedroom had queen-sized bed, plenty of space for clothes and tv. The compact kitchen provided everything you needed including daily replenished tea and coffee supplies. The bathroom was also compact but perfectly adequate, with power shower over bath. There was a hallway from which all the rooms led off and a walk in cupboard in the hall for suitcases; extra hanging space and it housed the ironing board.
The lifts were fast and efficient. My husband used the fitness suite but said it was a bit small. When we stayed there was a world championship fight being held at Madison Square Gardens and one of the contenders and his entourage were also staying at the Southgate Tower. They used the fitness suite every morning.
We did not eat in Niles restaurant so I cannot comment on the food but we did have a drink and the staff were friendly. There is every conceivable kind of restaurant nearby and you are completely spoilt for choice. Whether you decide to eat in or takeaway the choice is unbelievable. There are a number of bars in the vicinity too but as the drinking age is 21 and our son wasn't, we didn't visit except for Niles.
The hotel is well situated for access to all areas, (especially Macy's on 34th Street) buses stop outside the hotel, across the road, there is also the subway at Pennsylvania Station and of course the yellow cabs are plentiful and the lovely doorman, dressed in his all brown uniform and looking very much like a 'mounty' will blow his whistle to get a cab for you, anytime you like.
As much as I loved the Southgate's elegance, comfort and prime location, I don't know if I would stay there again. The continuous noise and lack of sleep did begin to take it's toll by the end of the week and I don't think moving to another room would have made any difference. I don't even know if there is a hotel in New York, which doesn't have this problem with city noise.
We stayed as part of a package with British Airways so the price included flights but I've checked Affinia's website www.affinia.com (click on Hotel Collection, on the right and you'll see Southgate Tower under Manhattan Series), and it's offering one-bedroom suite for $173 per night including breakfast. If you are just planning on stopping 1 or 2 nights then it is definitely worth considering.
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Southgate Tower Suite Hotel |
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